JP2011529300A - Method and apparatus for supporting multi-hop communication in a peer-to-peer communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

A wireless communication method and apparatus in a network, eg, a local ad hoc peer-to-peer network, has been described. There is a communication node, for example a third node monitor for wireless communication between other peer communication nodes, for example a first node and a second node, in its local vicinity. The third node determines an indication of the link quality corresponding to the communication link between communication nodes that are communicating or searching to establish a communication link from the monitored wireless communication. The third node generates an estimate of the link quality for the communication link between itself and the first node. Based on the link quality indication and the generated estimate of link quality, the third node determines whether to transmit a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes. When acting as an intermediate node after showing its effectiveness to do so, the third node can receive traffic data from the first node, eg, user data communicated in a peer-to-peer traffic segment. The third node communicates received traffic data to the second node by transmitting traffic data.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  Various embodiments relate to a wireless communication method and apparatus. In particular, the various embodiments relate to wireless communication methods and apparatus that support multi-hop communication via intermediate nodes.

  In a peer-to-peer network, different nodes residing in the system can communicate traffic data from one peer to another in a communication session. Traffic data may be communicated using a communication link between nodes. The communication link has an associated link quality that depends on a number of factors including, for example, interference level, channel path gain, channel path loss, and the like. In such a system, one problem often encountered is that the communication link between two communication nodes that are far apart may have poor link quality. Poor link quality may cause problems with transmitted traffic data and may require the use of high transmit power levels and / or low traffic rates.

  Thus, a poor link between two peers may make it difficult for the peers to communicate data reliably and / or at a sufficiently high data rate. The use of high transmit power not only causes interference to other devices, but can also drain the battery due to the use of high power levels.

  Communication via intermediate nodes may be allowed in some systems, but it may be difficult to detect suitable interfering nodes and / or use of intermediate nodes with peer devices, especially in ad hoc networks It may be difficult to determine whether it would be beneficial compared to communicating directly.

  Thus, there is a need for a method that facilitates communication between peer devices that allows, for example, the use of reduced transmit power levels, supports increased transmit data rates, and / or provides increased communication reliability. Needless to say. Further, an improved method for detecting the presence of a device that can be used as an intermediate node to facilitate communication and / or an improved method for determining whether communication through an intermediate node is beneficial or desired is developed. Needless to say, there is a need.

  A method and apparatus for wireless communication in a network, eg, a local ad hoc peer-to-peer network, is described. A communication node, such as a third node, monitors wireless communication between other peer communication nodes, such as a first node and a second node, in its local periphery. The third node determines an indication of the link quality corresponding to the communication link between the communication nodes that are communicating or searching to establish the communication link from the monitored wireless communication. The third node generates an estimate of the link quality for the communication link between itself and the first node. Based on the link quality indication and the generated estimate of link quality, the third node decides whether or not to send a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes. To do. When acting as an intermediate node after showing its effectiveness to do so, the third node can receive traffic data, eg user data communicated in a peer-to-peer traffic segment, from the first node. The third node communicates the received traffic data to the second node by transmitting the traffic data.

  In some embodiments, monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes includes receiving a radio signal transmitted by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes. including. In some embodiments, the third node determines an indication of the communication link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes from the monitored wireless communication. In other embodiments, the third node generates an estimate of the link quality of the wireless communication link between the first node and the third node. For example, the third node can monitor and detect wireless communication between the first and second nodes and measures a signal, eg, a peer discovery signal transmitted from the first node at a predetermined known power level. In such an embodiment, the third node determines, for example, one of channel path gain and channel path loss from the first node to the third node based on the measured received power.

  After determining the link quality indication between the first and second nodes and generating an estimate of the link quality between the first and third nodes, in some embodiments, the third node may be a signal, eg, a third node. It is determined whether or not to send a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying the communication between the first and the second via. In some embodiments, the decision to send such a signal is based on the determined indication of link quality and the generated estimate of link quality. For example, the determination of the link quality indication may indicate, for example, that the communication link between the first and second nodes is of poor quality, whereas the generated estimate of link quality is first and The communication link between the third nodes is of good quality, for example, it can be estimated that the link quality of the communication link between the first and third nodes meets or exceeds the predetermined criteria set for evaluating the link quality . Under such conditions, for example, the link between the first and third nodes is good, and in some embodiments the third node is the first if it is better than the direct link between the first and second nodes. And a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the second node and the second node can be determined.

  If the third node determines that a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes is to be transmitted via the third node, then such a signal is transmitted to the third node. The node transmits to at least one of the first and second nodes. In some embodiments, a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication is an instruction (instruction) for performing communication via the third node. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication merely indicates that the third node can be used as a relay for selection by one of the first and second nodes. In some embodiments, for example, one of the first and second nodes may decide to use the third node as a relay for communication data to the other one of the first and second nodes. Following such a determination, traffic data may occasionally be communicated indirectly between the two devices, ie between the first and second nodes. In some embodiments, the first node sends traffic data destined for the second node to a third node acting as an intermediate or hop point in data routing.

  In some embodiments, the third node receives a first traffic signal from a first node that communicates traffic data to a second node. Thereafter, the third node transmits a second traffic signal communicating the traffic data transmitted by the first node to the second node. In some embodiments, the third node processes the first traffic signal to recover the communication traffic data, for example, performs a data decoding operation on the first traffic signal. In such an embodiment, after recovering the traffic data, the third node performs an encoding operation to generate an encoded version of the recovered communication traffic data. The encoded version of the recovered communication traffic data is included in the second traffic signal and transmitted from the third node to the second node.

  An exemplary method of operating the third node to facilitate communication between the first and second nodes is to monitor the wireless communication between the first and second nodes, from the monitored wireless communication to the first Determining an indication of link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first node and the second node, generating an estimate of link quality for the wireless communication link between the first node and the third node, first and second Determining whether to transmit a signal to at least one of the nodes based on the link quality indication and the link quality occurrence estimate.

  According to some embodiments, the exemplary third node includes a monitor module configured to monitor wireless communication between the first node and the second node, and a first and second from the monitored wireless communication. A link quality indication determination module configured to determine an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the two nodes and generating an estimate of the link quality for the wireless communication link between the first node and the third node A link quality estimate generation module configured to determine whether to transmit a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on the link quality indication and the generated estimate of link quality Including a determination module configured as follows. In one example, the first node and the second node are in a region including the third node, for example, the first, second, and third nodes are provided in the same region and are part of an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network. In some embodiments, the first and second nodes are mobile radio terminals and the third node is a stationary device.

  While various embodiments have been discussed in the above summary, it is not necessarily that all embodiments include the same features, and some of the features described above may not be necessary, but may be desirable in some embodiments. In the detailed description that follows, numerous additional features, embodiments, and advantages of various embodiments are discussed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary peer-to-peer communication network, eg, an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network in a local area, according to one exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a portion of the peer-to-peer wireless communication network of FIG. 1 that characterizes the first, second, and third nodes illustrating signal exchange between devices in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically illustrating an exemplary third node, eg, an intermediate node for facilitating communication between the first and second, according to one exemplary embodiment. is there. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method that operates to communicate a third node, eg, a first peer to peer communications device, with a second peer to peer communications device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary peer to peer communications network 100, eg, an ad hoc peer to peer communications network implemented in a local area, according to one exemplary embodiment. An exemplary communication network 100 includes a plurality of peer-to-peer wireless communication devices (first node 102, second node 104, fourth node 108, ..., Nth node 110) and a third node 106, eg, stationary devices. Including.

  The wireless communication device (102, 104, 108, ..., 110) can include various signaling between peers, eg, peer discovery signals, transmission request signals, etc., and peers that can and sometimes include multiple hops. Supports data transmission between peers by routing communication between devices. According to an exemplary embodiment, a first peer-to-peer device, e.g., the first node 102 discovers another peer-to-peer device, e.g., a second node in its local vicinity, and further the first node 102 receives data, e.g., peer-to-peer. The user data of the segment can be transmitted from time to time to the second node 104, for example via a third node acting as a hop point for data routing. Also, some peer-to-peer communication devices, eg, device 4 108, include a wired interface that connects the peer-to-peer communication device to other nodes and / or the Internet in addition to the wireless communication interface. Some peer-to-peer communication devices are mobile communication devices, eg, portable mobile communication devices.

  FIG. 2 shows a portion 200 of an exemplary peer to peer communications network 100. Portion 200 includes a first node 102, a second node 104, and a third node 106. The various nodes of the communication network are, for example, mobile nodes that support peer-to-peer communication, according to an exemplary embodiment. Thus, the first, second and third nodes are probably mobile nodes. However, in some embodiments, the first and second nodes 102 and 104 are mobile devices, whereas the third node 106, eg, an intermediate node, is a stationary device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the third node 106 monitors wireless communication between the first node 102 and the second node 104. Communication is possible in either direction. Wireless communication between the first and second nodes is illustrated in FIG. In some embodiments, monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a radio transmitted by one of the first and second nodes to the other one of the first and second nodes. Receiving a signal. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication is a traffic data rate indication signal communicated from the second node 104 to the first node 102 as indicated by arrow 204 in the figure. In other embodiments, the monitored wireless communication is a link quality indication signal transmitted from the second node 104 to the first node 102 as shown by arrow 206 in FIG.

  To make it easier to understand the role performed by a third node, eg, an intermediate node, when establishing communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104, consider an example. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first node 102 transmits a signal, eg, a pilot signal, at a power level to the second node. The second node 104 receives the pilot signal, processes the received pilot signal, performs analysis of the received power level, for example, and generates a data rate indication signal indicating a data rate that can be supported. Thereafter, the second node 104 responds to the first node by communicating a rate echo signal 204, ie, a traffic data rate indication signal. For this example and according to one exemplary embodiment, the third node 106 is communicated from one peer device (eg, the second node 104) to another peer device (eg, the first node 102). Assume that the rate echo signal is configured to be monitored. Thus, the third node detects the rate echo signal 204 and, in some embodiments, processes the signal 204 to recover the indication traffic data rate from the rate echo signal 204. It should be noted that the terms rate echo signal and traffic data rate indication signal are used interchangeably in this application. The indicated traffic data rate recovered by the third node 106 provides the third node with an indication of the quality of the first communication link 208 between the first and second nodes. Thus, the third node can determine the link quality from the indicated traffic data rate.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the third node is a link quality, eg, the quality of the second communication link 210 between the first node and the third node and / or the third communication link between the third node and the second node. The quality of 212 is predicted based on the received signal. The third node generates a link quality estimate for a wireless communication link, eg, a possible communication link, to route traffic data between the first node and the second node in either direction through the third node. To do. For the example of FIG. 2, assume that the third node generates an estimate of the link quality for the wireless communication link between the first and third nodes. In some embodiments, in addition to determining an indication of link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes 102, 104, the third node may wirelessly communicate between the first and third nodes 102, 106. A link quality estimate for the link, eg, the second communication link 210 and a link quality estimate for the link 212 between the third and second nodes 106, 104 are generated. As will be discussed later, the third node 106 can determine based on some predetermined logic whether the third node 106 is helpful when establishing communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104. For example, in some embodiments, based on the link quality indication and the link quality generation estimate, the third node 106 has poor quality of the communication link, eg, the first communication link 208, and the links 210 and 212 are predicted or estimated You can decide that the quality is better. In such cases, the third node may help to act as a hop point when routing traffic between the first and second nodes, for example. In such embodiments where the third node provides assistance in the communication between the first and second nodes, the third node may communicate with the third node to relay communication between the first node 102 and the second node 104. A signal indicating the validity of 106 is transmitted to at least one of the first and second nodes.

  It goes without saying that the control or authority to use the third node as a relay depends on either the first, second or third node depending on the system / network design. In some embodiments, the third node 106 controls whether traffic data communicating from the first node 102 to the second node 104 is routed through the third node. In such an embodiment, the signal transmitted by the third node 106 to one of the first and second nodes 102, 104, for example the signal 214 or 216, is an instruction to communicate via the third node 106. . Alternatively, in other embodiments, the control of whether to accept assistance provided by the third node to relay communication between the first and second nodes via the third node 106 is, for example, the first And any one of the second nodes 102, 104. In such an embodiment, the signal transmitted by the third node 106 to one of the first and second nodes, eg, the signal 214 or 216, is selected by one of the first and second nodes 102, 104. Therefore, it is merely an instruction that the third node can be used as a relay. Although the operation of the third node 106 is discussed using the example of the first and second nodes 102, 104, the third node 106 may monitor for wireless communication between multiple nearby nodes, sometimes Needless to monitor. In some embodiments, the third node 106 can make a decision as to which node should send the validity signal based on various factors, eg, a comparison of link quality corresponding to the communication link being used.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary communication node 300, eg, an intermediate node that supports peer-to-peer communication. This may be implemented as the third node 106 of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

  A typical third node 300 includes a wireless receiver module 302, a wireless transmitter module 304, a processor 306, a user input / output device 308, and a storage device 310 to which various elements are coupled together via a bus 309 that can exchange data and information. including. In some embodiments, the third node is a stationary device. In some embodiments, if the third node 300 is a stationary device, the third node 300 also includes an input / output interface 307 that is connected to the bus 309. The I / O interface 307 may be a wired interface through which the communication device 300 may be coupled to a return network including other networks, cellular networks, and / or the Internet.

  Memory 310 includes routines 312 and data / information 314. The processor 306, eg, the CPU, executes the routine 312. Using data / information 314 in memory 310, processor 306 under the control of one or more routines controls third node 300 to perform a method, eg, a method according to flowchart 400 of FIG.

  The routine 312 includes a communication routine 316 and a set of node control routines 318. The communication routine 316 executes various communication protocols used by the third node 300. The node control routine 318 includes a monitor module 320, a link quality indication determination module 322, a link quality estimate generation module 328, a validity indication signal generation module 334, a determination module 336, a decoder module 337, an encoder module 338, and a second traffic data signal. A generation module 340, a transmission power control module 331, a peer discovery module 339, and a determination module 336 are included. The determination module 336 includes a link quality comparison module 341. The link quality indication determination module 322 includes an indication traffic data rate recovery module 324 and an indication link quality recovery module 326. The link quality estimate generation module 328 includes a power measurement module 330 and a determination module 332.

  Data / information 314 includes monitored wireless communication signals (monitored wireless communication signal 1 342, eg, traffic data rate indication signal, ..., monitored wireless communication signal N 344, eg, link quality indication signal), neighborhood 346 Identified peer communication nodes, generated validity indication signal 348, recovery indication traffic data rate value 350, generated second traffic signal 352, indication link quality information 354, generated estimate of link quality 362, and Power level information 356 is included. The power level information 356 includes received radio signal level information 358 and validity indication signal level information 360.

  For example, a wireless reception module 302, which may be an OFDM receiver, is connected to the reception antenna 301. The third node 300 receives signals from other communication nodes in the region via the receiving antenna. Received signals include signals received as part of a monitored wireless communication between other peer nodes in the region. The monitored signal may be, for example, a data rate instruction signal, a link quality instruction signal, or the like. Thus, during operation, the wireless reception module 302 can receive a wireless communication signal, including, for example, a wireless signal transmitted by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes. The wireless reception module 302 is further configured to receive a first traffic signal from a first node that communicates traffic data communicated to a second node. The first and second nodes are, for example, peer communication devices that search to establish communication.

  The wireless transmission module 304 may be, for example, an OFDM transmitter. Transmitter 304 is connected to antenna 303, through which third node 300 transmits signals to other communication nodes in the region. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for receivers and transmitters rather than separate antennas 301,303. In operation, the wireless transmission module 304 is configured to transmit the signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 via the third node when the determination module 336 determines that the signal is to be transmitted to the first and second nodes 102, 104. In order to relay communication between the nodes 102 and 104, a signal indicating validity, for example, an validity indication signal generated by the module 334, can be configured and sometimes configured. In some embodiments, the signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication is a command for performing communication via the third node 106. In some embodiments, a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communications indicates that the third node 106 is available for selection by one of the first and second nodes 102, 104. The wireless transmission module 304 is further configured to transmit the second traffic signal from the third node 106 to the second node 104 at various points in time. The second traffic signal communicates traffic data communicated by the first traffic signal. The data may include peer-to-peer traffic data conveying user data, for example text, audio and / or image data.

  The monitoring module 320 is for monitoring wireless communication between peer communication devices, for example, between the first node and the second nodes 102 and 104. Between the various signals received by the third node 106, the monitoring module 320 assists the third node to monitor the wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102,104. For example, the monitoring module 320 monitors a received radio signal transmitted by one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 to the other of the first and second nodes 102, 104. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is a traffic data rate indication signal communicated from the second node to the first node. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is a link quality indication signal communicated from the second node 104 to the first node 102.

  The link quality instruction determination module 322 is for determining a link quality instruction corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes 102 and 104 from the monitored wireless communication. The link quality indication determination module 322 includes an indication traffic data rate recovery module 324 and an indication link quality recovery module 326. As described above, in some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is a traffic data rate indication signal. The indication traffic data rate recovery module 324 is configured to process such a traffic data rate indication signal to extract an indication traffic data rate from the signal. This can include decoding the received signal or otherwise recovering rate information from the received signal. Because better links typically support higher data rates than lower quality links, the indicated data rate is an indication of link quality. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a link quality indication signal. The indicated link quality recovery module 326 is configured to process such a link quality indication signal and recover the indicated link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes.

  The link quality estimate module 328 is for determining and generating an estimate of link quality for the wireless communication link between the first node 102 and the third node 106. As initially discussed in the example of FIG. 2, the third node 106 can predict link quality, eg, the quality of the second communication link 210 between the first node 102 and the third node 106. This performance / function is defined by the link quality estimate module 328. Link quality estimate module 328 generates link quality estimates for wireless communication links, eg, possible communication links that can be used to route traffic data between first node 102 and second node 104. The link quality estimate module 328 calculates received power of signals transmitted from the first node at a known power level (eg, broadcast discovery signals, pilot signals, etc. transmitted at a predetermined known power level) as follows: A power measurement module 330 for measuring is included. The link quality estimate module 328 is configured to determine one of the channel path gain and channel path loss of the third node from the first node based on the received power measured by the power measurement module 330. including. For example, the determined channel path gain and / or channel path loss corresponds to the channel between the first and third nodes 102, 106, for example.

  In some embodiments, with the power level information 356, the transmit power control module 331 may be at a power level different from the power level used to transmit traffic data, although not necessarily all embodiments. Controls the transmission module 304 to transmit the validity indication signal. The validity signal can be transmitted at an average power level over that used for traffic data to increase the chance of detection.

  The determination module 336 determines whether to transmit a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 102 and 104 based on the link quality generation estimate and the link quality indication. Module 336 generates recovery indication traffic data rate 350, indication link quality information 354 and link quality 362 to determine whether a signal should be sent to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104. Use estimated values. This may be done according to one or more exemplary methods provided in this application. The recovery indication traffic data 348 and / or indication quality information 354 provides an indication of link quality corresponding to the link between the first and second nodes. The link quality 362 generation estimate provides an estimate of the link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first and third nodes 102, 106. In some embodiments, the determination module 336 determines whether to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 (eg, recovery indication traffic data rate 350 or indication link quality information 354). A link quality comparison module that compares the link quality indication (from) and the generation estimate of link quality 362. In some embodiments, the indicated link quality may be, for example, SNR level, SIR level, channel path gain, and the like. The recovery indication traffic data rate 350 is an output of the recovery module 324. The indicated link quality information 354 is an output of the indicated link quality recovery module 326, whereas the estimated link quality information 362 is an output of the link quality estimated value generation module 328. In some embodiments, the estimated link quality is at least twice as good as the link quality between the first and second nodes 102, 104 as indicated by the link quality indication, between the first and third nodes 102, 106. When indicating link quality, the determination module 336 can determine to send a signal to one of the first and second nodes 102, 104.

  When the decision module 336 determines to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104, the validity indication signal generation module 334 is at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104. The validity indication signal to be transmitted to the other is generated. The generated validity indication signal 348 is an output of the generation module 334 and is transmitted by the transmission module 304 to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 in accordance with the determination made by the determination module 336.

  The decoder module 337 is for performing a decoding operation on the first traffic signal received by the third node in order to recover the traffic data communicated from the first node 102 to the second node 104. As described above, in some embodiments, the third node 106 receives a first traffic signal from the first node 102 that communicates traffic data to the second node 104. In some embodiments, the third node 106 performs a data decoding operation on the received first traffic signal using the decoder module 337. In some embodiments, decoder module 337 performs error correction decoding operations as part of decoding while recovering traffic data. In this way, errors in the received data can be corrected as part of the process to recover the original traffic data from the first traffic signal. Needless to say, it may be possible for the third node 106 to receive error traffic data including errors from the first node 102 due to, for example, channel interference, noise level, and the like. Therefore, in such a case, the decoder module 337 successfully recovers the original traffic data packet contained in the first traffic signal.

  The encoder module 338 is used by the third node 106 to perform a data encoding operation to generate an encoded version of the recovered communication traffic data. For example, after recovering the traffic data contained in the received first traffic signal, it may be desirable for the recovered traffic data to be encoded before being transmitted by the third node 106 to the second node 104. The encoder module 338 receives the recovered traffic data from the decoder module 337 and performs an encoding operation to obtain an encoded version of the recovered traffic data. Following this, the second traffic signal generation module 340 generates a second traffic signal including an encoded version of the recovered traffic data. The second traffic signal is then communicated by the third node 106 to the second node 104, thereby communicating the original traffic data destined from the first node 102 to the second node 104 via the third node 106. As a result, transmission errors decoding and re-encoding are corrected and can be performed by the third device and are not easily propagated as would be the case when acting as a simple repeater.

  Monitored wireless communication signals (342, 344) represent signals received by the wireless receiver module 302 and processed by the peer discovery module 339. The list of identified peer communication devices in neighborhood 346 is a list of devices / peer nodes that are maintained and updated by peer discovery module 339. The peer discovery module identifies devices that the communication node 300 can search to establish communication.

  The list 346 may include, for example, the first and second nodes 102, 104 once identified by the third node 106 to be in the vicinity. The generated validity instruction signal 348 is an output of the validity instruction signal generation module 334 and may be transmitted by the wireless transmission module 304 when desired by the third node 300 as described below.

  The power level information 356 includes information used by the transmission power control module 331 that controls the wireless transmission module 304 to transmit different types of signals, eg, validity indication signal level information 360. The power level information 356 also includes power level information corresponding to radio signals received by the third node 300 from the first and / or second nodes 102, 104, for example. For example, in some embodiments, the output level information 356 includes received signal level information 358 that is power level information for wireless communication received by the third node from the first node. Received signal level information 358 is an output of power measurement module 330.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a third node, namely node 106, to facilitate communication between a first node, eg, a first peer-to-peer communication node 102 and a second node, eg, a second peer-to-peer communication node 104. 4 is a flowchart 400 of an exemplary method of operating. For this illustration, the first and second communication nodes 102, 104 are within the range of a third node 106 that acts as an intermediate device to facilitate communication between the communication nodes 102, 104. Typical method operation begins at step 402 when the third node is powered and initialized. Operation proceeds from start step 402 to step 404.

  In step 404, the third node 106 monitors the presence of any wireless communication in progress between the nodes in the region, eg, the first and second nodes 102,104. In some embodiments, during monitoring, in sub-step 405, the third node can and sometimes receives wireless signals, such as traffic data rate indication signal 204, link quality indication signal 206, etc. during monitoring. In sub-step 405, the received signal was transmitted by one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 to the other of the first and second nodes 102, 104. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is discussed in the traffic data rate indication signal, eg, the example of FIG. 2, sometimes referred to as the rate echo signal, and the second node A signal 206 communicated from 104 to the first node 102. In some embodiments, the monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is considered in the link quality indication signal, eg, the example of FIG. 2, and is communicated from the second node 104 to the first node 102. Signal 206. Operation proceeds from step 404, including substep 405, to step 406.

  In step 406, the third node determines an indication of the link quality corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes 102 from the monitored wireless communication, eg, from the received wireless signal. Recall the example of FIG. 2 in which the third node 106 considered determining an indication of the link quality of the communication link 208 of FIG. 2 between the communication links, eg, the first and second nodes 102, 104. In some embodiments, step 406 of determining a link quality indication corresponding to the communication link between the first and second nodes 102, 104 from the monitored wireless communication recovers the indicated traffic data rate from the received traffic data rate indication signal. Using the data rate or value resulting therefrom as a link quality indication. In other embodiments, the link quality indication signal is received as part of the monitor, and the decision step 406 recovers the indicated link quality from the received link quality indication signal, the recovered value or the value extracted therefrom as the link quality indication. Including trying to. In some such embodiments, the third node 106 may include a required means for recovering the indicated link quality from the link quality indication signal, eg, a link quality recovery module 326 that recovers the indicated quality value from the monitored wireless communication. Including. In some embodiments, the recovered link quality may be, for example, SNR level, SIR level, channel path gain, channel path loss, interference level, or other quality indication. Operation proceeds from step 406 to step 408.

  In step 408, the third node 106 generates an estimate of link quality for the wireless communication link between the first node 102 and the third node, eg, the second communication link 210 of FIG. In some embodiments, during the step of generating the estimate, the third node 106 may and sometimes performs sub-steps 410 and 412. In sub-step 410, the third node measures the received power of the signal sent from the first node 102 at a known power level. For example, while monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104, the third node 106 transmits a signal transmitted from the first node 102 to the second node 104, eg, a broadcast discovery signal, A pilot signal or the like may be detected. Using the power measurement module 330, the third node 106 can measure the power of the received signal. Subsequent to the measurement of received power, in sub-step 412, the third node 106 determines, for example, the channel corresponding to the communication link / channel between the first node 102 and the third node 106 based on the measured received power. One of path gain and channel path loss is determined.

  Operation proceeds from step 408 to step 414 to determine whether the third node 106 should send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 (eg, as generated in step 408). Determine based on link quality indication and link quality generation estimate (as generated in step 408). The decision to send a signal is based on one or more decision rules used to make such a decision and / or a threshold used by the node 106. One exemplary decision process is shown in exemplary substep 416. Thus, in some embodiments, a determination is made based on whether a set of conditions is met. In some embodiments, a set of such conditions, eg, Condition 1: Estimated link quality indicates the first link quality between the first and third nodes (eg, as generated in step 408). Is at least twice the quality of the link between the first and second nodes as indicated by the link quality indication (eg, as determined in step 408). This can be determined by comparing the link quality values. It goes without saying that a single condition is considered here as an example. However, the determination process may be based on whether or not a plurality of conditions are satisfied, and is sometimes based. If it is determined to send a signal to one of the first and second nodes 102, 104, operation proceeds from step 414 including sub-step 416 to step 418. Otherwise, operation returns from step 416 to step 404.

  In step 418, the third node 106 transmits a signal, eg, signal 214 or 216, shown in FIG. 2, indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes 102,104. In some embodiments, such a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communications is an instruction to communicate via the third node 106. For example, in some embodiments, the system design may use a third to make a decision to relay communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 via the third node 106 if the link quality condition is met. The node 106 is controlled. In such an embodiment, the authority to instruct the first and / or second nodes 102, 104 to communicate via the third node 106 is at the third node, and in some embodiments from the third node 106 This instruction is imposed on the first and second nodes 102 and 104. In another embodiment, the signal indicating the effectiveness of the third node 106 that relays communication between the first and second nodes 102, 104 is transmitted by the third node 106 to one of the first and second nodes 102, 104. Simply indicates that it can be used as a relay for selection. For example, in some embodiments, the validity signal is a routing information signal that identifies, for example, that the third node 106 can send a traffic signal from the first node 102 to the second node 104. In such an embodiment, the first and second to assist the first and / or second nodes 102, 104 to determine whether to use the third node 106 as a hop-point. The link quality comparison data can be provided to at least one of the nodes 102, 104. In such an embodiment, one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 is used as a relay when the third node 106 communicates data to the other of the first and second nodes 102, 104. Has the ability to determine and control. Operation proceeds from step 418 to step 420.

  In step 420, following the transmission of a signal indicating the validity of the third node 106, at least one of the first and second nodes 102, 104 (in response to its own selection or in response to a command from the third node). Assuming that it actively responds to the transmitted signal), the third node 106 receives the first traffic signal from the first node 102 that communicates traffic data communicated to the second node 104. In various embodiments, the traffic data includes user data. The user data may be data corresponding to, for example, voice, image, text, and / or user application. Since the third node 106 is acting at this point in the process, the third node 106 is the second node from the first node 102 as the second hop point in sending traffic data from the first node 102 to the second node 104. Receive traffic data destined for node 104. In some embodiments, further processing may be desired and / or required for the first traffic signal received by the third node 106 communicating the traffic data. For example, in some embodiments, traffic signals received by the third node 106 to make it more suitable for transmission to the second node 104 via the third node 106 and / or to correct errors in the received communication. It is desirable to change the encoding format of the traffic data being communicated, for example. Therefore, in such an embodiment, operation proceeds from step 420 to step 422. Alternatively, in some embodiments, no further processing is desired and / or required to be performed on the traffic signal received by the third node 106. In such an embodiment, operation proceeds directly from step 420 to step 426.

  In optional step 422, the third node processes the first traffic signal to recover communication traffic data. The third node 106 uses a decoder module 337 that recovers traffic data from the first traffic signal. For example, in some embodiments, the decoder module 337 performs an error correction decoding operation on the received traffic signal. Operation proceeds from step 422 and the third node 106 performs a data encoding operation to generate an encoded version of the recovered communication traffic data. In some embodiments, the encoded version of the traffic data may have an encoding format that is different from the encoding format of the received communication traffic data. After encoding the recovered traffic data, as part of step 424, the third node 106 generates a second traffic signal that includes an encoded version of the recovered traffic data. Operation proceeds from step 424 to step 426.

  In step 426, the third node 106 transmits the second traffic signal to the second node 104. The second traffic signal communicates communicated traffic data, for example, traffic data directed from the first node 102 to the second node 104 by the first traffic signal.

  The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware and / or a combination of software and hardware. Various embodiments are directed to devices, eg, mobile nodes such as mobile terminals, base stations, communication systems. Various embodiments are also directed to methods, eg, methods for controlling mobile nodes, base stations, and / or communication systems, eg, hosts. Various embodiments also include a machine, eg, a computer readable medium, eg, ROM, RAM, CD, hard disk, etc., including machine readable instructions for controlling the machine to perform one or more steps of the method. It is intended for.

  In various embodiments, the nodes described herein use one or more modules to perform steps corresponding to one or more methods, eg, signal processing, message generation and / or communication steps. Implemented. Thus, depending on the embodiment, various features are implemented using modules. Such a module may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many of the methods or method steps described above include, for example, a memory for controlling a general purpose computer with or without additional hardware, for example, to implement all or part of the methods described above at one or more nodes. It can be implemented using machine-executable instructions such as software contained in a machine-readable medium such as a device, eg, RAM, floppy disk, etc. Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to machine-readable media including machine-executable instructions for causing a machine, eg, a processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the above methods. Some embodiments are directed to a communication node that includes an apparatus, eg, a processor configured to perform one, more than one, or all of one or more methods of the present invention.

  Depending on the embodiment, a processor or one or more devices, eg, a processor of a communication node such as an access node and / or a wireless terminal, eg, a CPU, performs the steps of the method described to be performed by the communication node. Configured to run. The configuration of the processor may be one or more modules, eg, software modules, to control the processor configuration and / or perform the described steps and / or a processor, eg, hardware module, to control the processor configuration May be achieved including hardware. Accordingly, some that are not all embodiments are directed to devices having a processor, eg, a communication node, that includes a module corresponding to each step of the various described methods performed by the device that includes the processor. . In some not all embodiments, an apparatus, eg, a communication node, includes a module corresponding to each step of the various described methods performed by the apparatus that includes the processor. The module may be implemented using software and / or hardware.

  Some embodiments provide a computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium that includes various functions, steps, acts, and / or actions, eg, code that causes a computer or multiple computers to perform one or more of the steps described above. Target. Depending on the embodiment, the computer program product can and sometimes includes different code for each step performed. Thus, a computer program product may and sometimes includes code for each individual step of a method, eg, a method of controlling a communication device or node. The code is stored on a machine, for example a computer readable medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device, stored on a computer readable medium, For example, it may be in the form of computer-executable instructions. In addition to targeting computer program products, some embodiments are directed to processors configured to perform various functions, steps, acts, and / or operations of one or more methods described above. . Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, eg, a CPU, configured to perform some or all of the method steps described herein. For example, the processor may be used in the communication device or other devices described in this application.

  Although described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of the methods and apparatus of the various embodiments are applicable to a wide range of communication systems including many non-OFDM and / or non-cellular schemes.

  Numerous additional changes in the methods and apparatus of the various embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such variations will be considered within the scope. The method and apparatus may be used for CDMA, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and / or various other types of communication technologies that can be used to provide a wireless communication link between an access node and a mobile node. Often used in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the access node is implemented as a base station that establishes a communication link with the mobile node using OFDM and / or CDMA. In various embodiments, the mobile node is implemented as a notebook computer, personal data assistant (PDA) or other portable device that includes receive / transmit circuitry and logic and / or routines for performing the method.

Claims (30)

A method of operating a third node to facilitate communication between the first and second nodes, comprising:
Monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
Determining an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from a monitored wireless communication;
Generating a link quality evaluation value for a wireless communication link between the first node and the third node;
Determining whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on a link quality indication and a link quality generation estimate;
Including a method.   Monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes includes receiving a wireless signal sent by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes. The method of claim 1 comprising.   A signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes via the third node when it is determined to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes The method of claim 1, further comprising:   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication is an instruction to communicate via the third node.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communications indicates that the third node can be used to select as a relay by one of the first and second nodes. Receiving a first traffic signal from the first node communicating traffic data communicated to the second node;
Transmitting a second traffic signal from the third node to the second node;
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second signal communicates traffic data communicated by a first traffic signal. Processing the first traffic signal to recover the communication traffic data;
Performing a data encoding operation to generate an encoded version of the recovered communication traffic data;
The method of claim 6, wherein the encoded version of recovered traffic data is communicated by the second traffic signal.   The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second nodes are mobile radio terminals, and the third node is a stationary device. The monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a traffic data rate indication signal communicated from the second node to the first node;
The determining a link quality indication corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from a monitored wireless communication includes recovering an indication traffic data rate from the traffic data rate indication signal. Method 3. The monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a link quality indication signal communicated from the second node to the first node;
4. The determination of a link quality indication corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from a monitored wireless communication includes recovering the indicated link quality from the link quality indication signal. Method. Generating an estimate of link quality for a wireless communication link between the first node and the third node is:
Measuring the received power of a signal sent from the first node at a known power level;
4. The method of claim 3, comprising determining one of a channel path gain and a channel path loss from the first node to the third node based on measured received power. Determining whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on a link quality indication and a generated estimate of link quality is:
Determining to transmit the signal when the estimated link quality indicates a first link quality between the first and third nodes, wherein the first link quality is indicated by an indication of link quality 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method is at least twice as good as the quality of the link between the first and second nodes. Determining whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on a link quality indication and a generated estimate of link quality is:
Determining that the signal is not transmitted when the estimated link quality indicates a first link quality between the first and third nodes, the first link quality being indicated by an indication of link quality The method of claim 3, wherein the method is at least less than twice as good as the quality of the link between the first and second nodes. A monitor module configured to monitor wireless communication between the first node and the second node;
A link quality indication determination module configured to determine an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from a monitored wireless communication;
A link quality estimate generation module configured to generate an estimate of link quality for a wireless communication link between the first node and the communication node;
A decision module configured to determine whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on a link quality indication and a generated estimate of link quality;
Including communication nodes. A receiver for receiving wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
The wireless communication node of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication includes a wireless signal sent by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes.   Effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes via the communication node when the decision module determines to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes 15. The communication node of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter configured to send a signal indicative of   The communication node according to claim 16, wherein the signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication is an instruction to perform communication via the communication node.   The communication node according to claim 16, wherein the signal indicating effectiveness of relaying communication indicates that the communication node can be selected as a relay by one of the first and second nodes. The receiver is further configured to receive a first traffic signal from the first node communicating traffic data communicated to the second node;
The transmitter is further configured to transmit a second traffic signal from the communication node to the second node;
The communication node of claim 18, wherein the second signal communicates the traffic data communicated by the first traffic signal. A decoder module configured to perform a decoding operation on the first traffic signal to recover the traffic data;
An encoder module configured to perform a data encoding operation to generate an encoded version of recovered communication traffic data;
The communication node of claim 19, wherein the encoded version of recovered traffic data is communicated by the second traffic signal. The communication node is a stationary device;
The communication node according to claim 14, wherein the first and second nodes are mobile radio terminals. The monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a traffic data rate indication signal communicated from the second node to the first node;
The link quality indication determination module is:
The communication node of claim 16, comprising a traffic data rate recovery module that recovers an indicated traffic data rate from the traffic data rate indication signal. The monitored wireless communication between the first and second nodes is a link quality indication signal communicated from the second node to the first node;
17. The communication node of claim 16, wherein the link quality indication determination module includes an indication link quality recovery module that recovers indication link quality from the link quality indication signal. The link quality estimate generation module
A power measurement module for measuring received power of a signal transmitted from the first node at a known power level;
17. The communication node of claim 16, comprising a determination module configured to determine one of a channel path gain and a channel path loss from the first node to the communication node based on the measured received power. Monitoring means for monitoring wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
Link quality instruction determining means for determining an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from monitored wireless communication;
Link quality estimated value generation means for generating an evaluation value of link quality for a wireless communication link between the first node and the communication node;
Determining means for determining whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on an indication of link quality and a generated estimate of link quality;
A communication node comprising: Receiving means for receiving wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
26. The communication node of claim 25, wherein the wireless communication includes a wireless signal sent by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes.   When the decision means decides to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes, the effectiveness of relaying the communication between the first and second nodes via the communication means is determined. The communication node according to claim 25, further comprising transmission means for transmitting the indicated signal. Code for causing a computer to monitor wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
Code for causing a computer to determine an indication of link quality corresponding to a communication link between the first and second nodes from a monitored wireless communication;
Code for causing a computer to generate a link quality evaluation value for a wireless communication link between the first node and the communication node;
Code for causing a computer to determine whether to signal to at least one of the first and second nodes based on a link quality indication and a link quality generation estimate;
A computer program product for use in a communication node, comprising a computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium is
Further comprising code for causing a computer to receive wireless communication between the first and second nodes;
30. The wireless communication node of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication includes a wireless signal sent by one of the first and second nodes to the other of the first and second nodes. The computer readable medium is
When it is decided to send a signal to at least one of the first and second nodes, a signal indicating the effectiveness of relaying communication between the first and second nodes via the communication node is sent to the computer 30. The computer program product of claim 28, further comprising code for transmission.

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